by Alexia Praks
Alec turned his eyes from the tranquil view of the countryside to that of the young woman in the back seat. He watched her as she murmured, "So tired." Then she closed her eyes and her head fell sideways. He knew the drug was working.
The car came to a screeching halt on the side of the empty road. He took his sunglasses off and swiftly stepped out, opening the door on her side in order to study her. Damn it! She looked so young and fragile, especially in that Fendi dress of hers. Was he doing the right thing?
Moving in, he arranged her so that she lay more comfortably across the length of the seat. Then he got back into the driver seat and drove out.
It was an hour later when the car entered Hasting Estate, and by the time he drove into the courtyard of Hasting Manor, it was already dark.
An elderly man, dressed in a kilt and green jersey, rushed toward the Maybach as it maneuvered around the Cupid water feature to the front of the manor.
"Master Hasting," the elderly man said in his thick Scottish brogue.
Alec came out of the car and rushed around to open the passenger door. He lifted Ruby out.
"Well, I say--" The butler stared wide-eyed at the unconscious female.
"Has Mrs. McKenzie arranged a room for my guest yet?" Alec asked, strolling into the manor.
"Aye, of course." McKenzie nodded, following Alec.
At the door, they met Mrs. McKenzie, the butler's wife, who smiled and curtsied at Alec. Beside her stood a footman, a parlor maid, and three other housemaids, arranged nicely in a line.
"Master Hasting," Mrs. McKenzie said in a thick brogue. "Yer lassie 'as fallen asleep."
"David, take Master Hasting's car to the garage," McKenzie said to the footman. David nodded and ran out of the manor.
Alec climbed the stairs to the second floor while Mrs. McKenzie followed him. He went into one of the rooms on the left and placed Ruby on top of the large bed.
"She's a tiny, wee thing, ain't she?" Mrs. McKenzie commented.
He took her sandals off, covered her with the duvet, and stood back, both hands on his hips. "Tiny wee thing," he murmured under his breath.
"Will there be anythin' else I can do?" the housekeeper asked.
"Where's the key to this room?"
The housekeeper raised her brows. "Oh." She took the key ring from her pocket, found the key she wanted from the thick bunch, and gave it to him.
"Thank you. You may go now."
Mrs. McKenzie nodded and strolled out.
Alec cursed--fluently and loudly. What the hell am I doing? Susan, Susan, Susan! He should never have listened to his beautiful sister. He knew, however, he could not turn back now as he gazed at Ruby, still unconscious. He already committed one act he never thought he'd do: kidnapping!
He turned on his heels and left the room, locking the door behind him, and all the while, feeling utterly miserable.
*
FOUR
Ruby fluttered her eyes open; but instantly, shut them again. Her head was pounding badly. The glaring light above her also didn't help. She blinked a few times to get used to the brightness.
Where am I?
Sitting up, immediately, the world spun before her eyes. It was always like that when she got up too fast because of her low blood pressure. She shut her eyes for a few seconds, allowing more time for the blood to reach her head. It did and her vision soon cleared.
She scanned her surroundings, trying to think where she could possibly be. The room was large and very elegant, furnished in a Georgian period French style. She felt like she was in a five-star hotel, similar to the type she often saw in the pictures of magazines.
Who'd own such a beautiful antique bed? And this antique furniture?
Brian!
Was she at Westwick Castle, sleeping in one of the guest rooms? Her heart did a somersault, and she rushed out of the bed and ran to the window, hoping to see the view of his estate. Unfortunately, she couldn't see anything. It was too dark outside.
So she was finally here! She grinned and strolled to a door, only to find it was a walk-in wardrobe, but empty. She searched around for her handbag and suitcase. Where could they be? She scanned the other side of the bed. They were not there either. She saw another door. Guessing it might be another wardrobe, and that her things might have been found there, she flung it open and discovered it was the bathroom. She noted the clean, fresh decor. Ooh-la-la! Very nice. She searched about the place, but failed to locate her belongings. Perhaps Brian might know? She went back into the bedroom and then toward the door she assumed would be the exit. She touched the cool brass door handle and turned it. It was stuck. She tried again, but it was still stuck.
Panicking, she wriggled the door handle harder, but it didn't seem to work. She rushed to the window and tried to find a gadget that might open the window. She found the handle and tried it. But it was locked.
Something wasn't right. Was it getting rather hot, or was it just her? What if she were locked in and nobody knew where she was? Okay, stay calm, Ruby. You'll find a way to get out.
She ran to the door and tried the handle again. It still didn't work. She banged her palm on the door in frustration.
"Anyone out there?" she shouted. "Anyone, please! I'm locked in here!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Silence.
"Anyone out there?" she shouted. When no one answered her, she rushed back to the window and tried the lock again. It still didn't work, and that was when she really started to get scared.
Stay calm, Ruby, there's no need for you to get all worked up about this.
Her heart started to beat faster and her vision started to blur. The room began to spin again. She touched her forehead, and as she tried, once more, to run to the door, she fell unconscious.
Upon opening her eyes, she found she was back in bed. She must have been dreaming, she told herself internally as she stared at the bedside lamp, while squeezing her eyes shut to ease the soreness. When she flashed them open, tears started brewing. Her contact lenses were irritating her eyes. She shifted her body to get into a more comfortable position to ease the numbness in her right arm. That was when she noticed him.
Bolting up, she rushed off the bed like she was on fire and sprinted to the opposite corner of the room. She closed her eyes and commanded herself not to faint. Once she regained control of herself, she glanced up.
Is he the driver? She couldn't think straight. But he must have been, although this time, he had no sunglasses on. And where's Brian?
He moved toward her.
"Stay--stay away," she managed to get out. "Who--who are you?"
"Do you want a drink?" he asked. "You fainted."
"No, I want Brian!" she said, her voice quivering.
"You must be hungry. Do you want something to eat?"
"No, I want Brian."
The door opened, and Ruby saw a plump woman with bright red hair entering the room, carrying a tray of food. She smiled fleetingly at the driver, and glanced at Ruby, before placing the tray on the round French mahogany table. She curtsied to the driver and quickly left.
Ruby saw her chance and dashed to the door as the woman was about to close it. In a flash, Alec grabbed her arm and swung her around. She collided against his hard chest with a feeble puff.
"Let go," she snapped.
His grip tightened as she struggled against him.
"Let go!"
"You're hungry; eat your dinner," he said, as he effortlessly lifted her up in his arms.
Ruby's train of thought was lost. No one had ever carried her before. She simply didn't know how to respond to such an odd and rare situation.
He placed her on the seat and said, "Your dinner, 'tis getting cold."
Ruby just stared at him, thinking the man must be mentally impaired for ignoring her burst of outrage.
"Who are you? And where is Brian?" she demanded.
"Just eat your dinner," he said; his Scottish brogue deliciously thick.
He lowered hi
mself to his knees until his face was only inches from hers. Ruby found she couldn't tear her eyes away from his.
Grey--his eyes were a steel grey color. They were sharp and clear. She realized he was the type of man that she did not want to get on the wrong side of--the type of man who knew his own mind and made his own rules. He was a man who wielded power and authority.
"Or would you prefer not to have dinner at all?" he asked, his warm breath fanning the side of her cheek.
Ruby blinked, glancing at her food, and said, "Is this Brian's castle?"
"Nay," he replied.
She took a deep, shaky breath. "Am I being kidnapped then? We are not rich, you know. And it might be hard to get ransom from my mum and sisters because they live in New Zealand. I--I think you might have the wrong person. It--it must have been someone else in that motel you wanted. It certainly wasn't me. Won't--won't you let me go?"
"Nay. Have your dinner." He moved to shut the door, but she noticed he didn't lock it.
Ruby blinked. Her eyes were still sore, but she tried to ignore the pain. She knew he was watching her. What must I do? She turned back to her food. Although she was hungry, she had no appetite. She was too worried this beast of a man might murder her. Or put some poison in the food in order to kill her. She decided not to touch it.
"You're not hungry?" he asked.
"Yes. I mean, yes, I'm hungry," she replied, for it was not in her nature to lie.
"Then eat up."
She shook her head, standing up shakily before staggering to the door.
He grabbed her by the arm, stopping her in her tracks. She tried to resist his manhandling.
"Let go," she shouted.
He immediately obliged her, but still stood in her way.
She stepped back, frustrated. "Are you going to lock me in here?"
He raised his eyebrows, his grey eyes sharpening.
Ruby hyperventilated, and her face flushed red. That usually happened whenever she was nervous, frustrated, or angry; although she was usually a sweet girl with a good temper. However, when it was too much, like it was now, this sweet, gentle piglet could turn into a raging boar.
That raging boar was about to make its appearance now.
She stroked her fingers through her hair in frustration, and grunted loudly as she glared at him.
"You have to let me go! This isn't right."
He just stood there watching her as if he found her very amusing.
"If you don't let me go, I will scream this house down."
Silent. Grey eyes watching.
"Oh," she grunted, pacing forward and bashing her fists against his chest. He didn't even budge. His chest was solid as a brick wall.
He seized her wrists. "You'll only tire yourself. I don't want you to get tired."
"As if you care!" she shouted. Her eyes were turning red. She shoved away from him and wiped her tears, blinking several times before a contact lens fell out of her right eye.
"Oh, no," she cried as she slumped down on her knees, searching for the lens. Try as she might, she couldn't find it anywhere. She couldn't see properly, using only one short-distance eye, and the other, a very irritated eye.
After a few seconds, when she still couldn't find the damn lens, she got very frustrated and shot up.
The raging boar was about to emerge.
She turned, grabbing the tray of food, and threw it at him.
He dashed out of the way just in time. The tray and food landed on the floor.
"Why won't you let me go? I don't understand why you've kidnapped me!" She ran to the bed, grabbing the pillows, which she threw at him.
Alec effortlessly caught the pillows, and threw them to one side, pacing over to her and seizing her arm. "Calm down, lass, I'm not going to harm you."
"Not going to harm me?" she asked, staring up at him. "Then why have you kidnapped me? Lord, this kind of thing doesn't happen to me. It doesn't happen in New Zealand."
"Just stay still," he said.
"Let me go!"
"I will let you go, if you stay still."
Realizing that she was not going to win by disobeying his order, she sighed and nodded. Slowly, he let her go. She slumped on the bed.
There were knocks at the door, and Mrs. McKenzie popped her head in. "Everything all right?"
"Mrs. McKenzie, please clean up this mess," Alec said. "And bring us some more food. Tell Lizzie to come in here, won't you?"
Mrs. McKenzie nodded and left again.
"You need a bath."
"I'm fine!" Ruby said.
He strolled to the window and shut the drapes.
"Where are my things?" she asked, looking at him.
"You don't need them."
"Of course, I need them. My wallet, my passport, and everything else."
"You don't need them."
"You're deliberately keeping my things away from me? You're imprisoning me here and stealing my possessions?"
"When the time comes, I will return them to you," he said, watching her dark brown eyes glaring at him. He noted the defensive stance and her ample breasts, rising and falling as she raged.
"When will that be?"
"When the time comes," he replied, trying to keep the smile from showing on his face. There was another knock. "Come in," he replied.
At the door, Ruby saw the same woman who came in before with the tray of food.
"Draw a hot bath, won't you, Lizzie?" Alec ordered.
Lizzie curtsied and glanced curiously at Ruby as she rushed into the bathroom.
"I don't need a bath," Ruby repeated. "And I want my things."
"You do need a bath." He grabbed her arm and dragged her into the bathroom.
"Let go, damn it!"
Alec grasped her small chin between his fingers and thumb, nudging her face toward his until they were inches apart and said, "Listen here, lassie, I have just about had enough of you. You do as I say and bathe, or I'll rip that dress off you myself, and wash you good."
Ruby gritted her teeth and shoved his hand away. "Go to hell!" she hissed as she turned and gave him her back. She was still seething when she heard him shutting the door behind her.
Lizzie said, "'Allo, miss, what can I help ya wif?"
Ruby hesitated and took a deep breath as she tried to understand what the woman said. "I don't understand you. Please leave."
"Are ya sure ya dunna want me ta help wif anythin'?" Lizzie repeated.
"I don't understand you. Look, why don't you just go?" Ruby suggested, pointing toward the door.
"Ya want me ta leave? But Master Alec says ta help ya."
"Look, just go," Ruby said in frustration because she didn't want to argue. Her eyes were getting irritated and so damn sore, she could no longer ignore them.
Lizzie shook her head.
Ruby sighed. "Fine then, just turn around at least, would you?" She touched Lizzie's shoulders and turned the woman around. "Stay there!"
Once she was sure Lizzie was not looking, Ruby went to the mirror and took her contact lens out. Then she undressed and quickly got into the bathtub.
Lizzie heard the splashing of water and turned around.
"I don't need help, you know," Ruby murmured as Lizzie started stroking the long strands of her hair. She was supposed to be kidnapped, for God's sake, not having a spa treatment! However, she had to admit the gentle massaging did make her relax, and she was temporarily able to forget about the handsome, arrogant brute outside.
Once the maid was done, her hair felt like silk, and smelled like the Garden of Eden.
"Thank you," she said, smiling at Lizzie.
"Pleasure," Lizzie replied as she got up.
That word Ruby could understand. Once Lizzie left, Ruby actually enjoyed her time in the bath, and when the water turned cold, she got out. She put on the robe Lizzie left for her and went into the bedroom--hoping the Scottish brute would be gone.
No such luck. He was still there, sitting on the bed and watching her with his
steel grey eyes. She noticed the room was now clean.
"You're still here," she commented, tugging her robe more securely so that no skin was showing.
He stood up. "Here," he said, handing her what appeared to be her pyjamas.
"Thank you," she said, holding the garment up to have a look.
It wasn't pyjamas at all. It was a man's shirt. His shirt!
"This isn't my pyjamas." She threw it abruptly on the bed. "Where's my clothing?"
He picked it up. "It'll have to do."
"Don't want it." She folded her arms across her chest, staring up at him through her thick, dark lashes.
Alec was stunned by how pretty she was. She looked like a water nymph with her long, wet hair framing her unique oval face. She smelled like heaven, too. He wanted to go nearer, perhaps graze his nose over her hair, just to smell her properly, and maybe wrap his arm around her.
His body sparked with pleasure.
He cleared his throat, knowing he needed to say something about his damn shirt, which she kept refusing to wear. He feared he'd probably end up obeying what his prime male instinct kept nagging him to do right there and then--throw her onto the bed and kiss her silly.
"Your choice," he said, watching her, "if you don't wear this, you'll wear nothing."
Ruby felt uncomfortable. His eyes were too intense. She felt like she was a stripper, and he was waiting for her to do just that--strip--right in front of him.
She had never been with a man in such close proximity before, and certainly, had never been so naked in front of a man before either. The situation was entirely new to her, and she didn't know how to deal with it. She knew she couldn't possibly go to bed wearing this blasted robe.
She sighed and said, "Okay," before grabbing the shirt from him, shoving her chin a notch higher, turning on her heels, and marching into the bathroom with her back straight.
Alec thought she walked like a queen, and seemed to be in a better mood after her bath. He made a note to remember that a warm bath mellowed her rather effectively.
Alec had to be honest: he had never met anyone quite like her. Externally, she looked fragile, but he saw none of that in her so far. Sure, she fainted, but that was probably because she hadn't eaten and was very dehydrated, and yes, perhaps a bit panicky after waking up and finding herself locked inside a room in God knows where.
Then he remembered her tantrum. My God, he had never seen such hot outrage from a woman before. She was very potent, shouting at him, throwing things and screaming obscenities like an erupting volcano. Only, he didn't remember his little Ruby being like that back at the camp. She was always so sweet and gentle.
